- Bill Cook Foundation
Bill Cook Foundation supported AGYW. He is an organisation whose objective is to promote access to education and support students to pursue their education. Bill Cook is very passionate about training everyone in schools especially girls. He is currently supporting 20 children on education in Gweru. He does this so;
- Families are supported to be self sufficient
- Every citizen needs to be equipped with skills to enable meaningful engagement.
- Girls can become empowered when efforts are made to educate them.
- Elizabeth Nyamayaro
She was representing UNESCO. She is the author of “I am a girl from Africa” who was raised by her grandmother. She is a Zimbabwean young women and girl motivator who values girls’ rights and encourages young women and girls to value their lives and be positive always. She encouraged young women and girls to consider and give a hand to their fellow girls around the regions. She reminded young women and girls to embrace their culture and ubuntu as they push their agenda.
- Melford Sibada Eswatini
He is a member of parliament of Eswatini who declared his support girls and young women and see that enough resources are allocated to the development of females. He also declared his support and see that issues around girls and young women are given the priority they deserve.
- Tanzania Ambassador
The ambassador showed interest and the political will of his country to protect, defend and promote the rights of girls and young women in Tanzania. The ambassador unpacked a number of laws and policies in Tanzania which protect young women and girls such as the education policy which provides free education for all students from grade 1 to 4. He highlighted that governments need intervention to accelerate efforts to end violence and discrimination against young women and girls. He also encouraged states that rights regarding girls and young women should be ensured, respected, understood, articulated clearly and uphold.
The Ambassador appreciated the communique presented by the young women and girls and made an undertaking to take the document to his country for consideration.
The Ambassador concluded by advising the young women and girls to :-
- “Avoid placing themselves in situations which may lead to violations of their rights.
- Live a life of destiny which is informed by dreams.”
- Nikuse Musi the Secretary in the Embassy of Rwanda representing the Rwanda Ambassador.
The secretary advised that the communique has been well received and the document will be taken to the powers that be. She highlighted Rwanda’s key achievements around the advancement, development and equality between men and women since the genocide period.
She also highlighted that women in Rwanda have managed to make it to leadership positions having a 62% of women in parliament. She encouraged women to participate in decision making processes.
- The Canadian High Commissioner Ambassador Buchnan
The “youth are the future and their voices matter” this was the commissioner’s opening statement. She encouraged the young women and girls to keep talking to leaders and communicate their issues. She encouraged them to take their communication at higher level including donors and some international organisations.
The COVID -19 period has been tough for everyone including young women and girls. This increased the number of child marriages across Africa, increased school dropouts, increased DBV and restricted movement which reduced solidarity.
- Zimbabwe – Gender Commission Commissioner T Hungwe
The commissioner highlighted what the commission had done, what they intend to do and achieve. She indicated that the commission added its voice to invest in AGYW issues since many girls and young women are deprived of their educational opportunities and health rights. During COVID 18 the girls were taken out of school and were exposed to teen pregnancies and complications related to child delivery. She advised that there is need to keep girls in school for longer periods and there is also need to make an effort to identify and reach out the most vulnerable girls.
The commissioner advised that the commission had made several recommendations to parliament of Zimbabwe to
- eliminate harmful practices such child marriage and domestic violence
- harmonise laws relating to marriage, domestic violence and criminal law
- lobby for mandatory sentence for rape.
Way forward
Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe – AGYW Convener and Director of TaLI
The director indicated that what is now important was to chart a way forward and articulate action points. She was thankful that promises had been made and implored partners, ambassadors and policy makers to heed the voices of African girls as enshrined in the communique
“Girls are calling for action, they have been dedicated for two and half days of intense conferencing putting their voices together. As Africa and the world are rebuilding from the ruins of the COVID 19, leaders need to put a priority in AGYW issues. They want to go back to school and participate mean fully in political and economic issues.”
In support of issues raised by the convener, Farai from Zimbabwe indicated that budget for education must be widened from the current 20% as this sadly included administration expenses and teachers’ salaries.
The Convenor proceeded to invite leaders in the house to be champions of girls’ issues and implored them to open doors for AGYW. She highlighted that the same conference will convened again in two years and concluded by saying that AGYW must be heard, their situation must change and congratulated young women for their resilience and thanked everyone for their contribution to the success of the conference.